Indus Towers Ltd is betting on Africa as its next growth frontier, with commercial rollout activities expected to gather pace during FY27 after laying the groundwork in three key markets, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia.
In his message to shareholders in the company’s Annual Report 2026, Managing Director and CEO Prachur Sah said the company’s entry into Africa marks a significant milestone in its strategy to diversify revenue streams and tap high-growth digital infrastructure markets.
The expansion is backed by Indus Towers’ strong financial position and the established presence of its anchor customer across the region. The company also aims to replicate its successful infrastructure-sharing model, which transformed India’s telecom tower industry by enabling operators to share network infrastructure.
Africa strategy gains traction
According to Sah, Indus Towers has secured operating licences in all three target markets and established commercial frameworks with its anchor customer. Initial orders have already been received, while the company has made substantial progress in building supply chain capabilities and strengthening operational readiness.
“Rollout activity is expected to commence and gather momentum during FY27,” he said, adding that the company’s execution capabilities, disciplined cost management and focus on service quality would help create scalable infrastructure platforms capable of delivering long-term value.
The Africa foray represents the company’s first major international expansion and opens a new avenue for future growth beyond the domestic telecom infrastructure market.
Focus on cost efficiency
Indus Towers said it continued to improve operational efficiency during FY26 by driving structural improvements across operating and capital expenditure.
The company accelerated the adoption of digital tools, standardised processes and strengthened governance frameworks to improve planning accuracy and execution. It also focused on enhancing field productivity through digital enablement, optimised site allocation and greater centralisation of operations, reducing redundancies and improving workforce efficiency.
Market share strengthens
The company also expanded its market share in India during FY26, supported by increased network rollouts from a major customer following its fundraising in the previous year.
Indus Towers also benefited from the relocation of a major customer’s telecom sites to its portfolio, reinforcing its position as a preferred infrastructure partner.
Beyond telecom towers, the company strengthened its presence in adjacent infrastructure segments. It emerged as a market leader in the In-Building Solutions (IBS) segment through a proactive acquisition strategy, while its Distributed Antenna System (DAS) business recorded higher deployments across metro rail networks, tunnels and highways.
The company said its focus on build-to-suit solutions and technology-led infrastructure would support long-term growth.
AI-led digital transformation
Indus Towers said digital transformation remains central to its strategy, with investments in artificial intelligence, automation, advanced analytics, digital twins and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled solutions helping build a smarter, more efficient and responsive network.
The company believes these technologies will improve operational performance, enhance customer service and support future network expansion both in India and overseas.